The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-13
NEWLY PLANTED TREES.
Care That Should Be Bestowed on Them
Before Winter Sets In.

] Care That Should BE Bestowed on Them
| Before Winter Sets In.
Assuming that tree-planting is done
in spring-as nine-tenths of it unde-
niably is-wc find the first season sue
ceeding its planting by far the most
critical time in the history. During
these first few months the tree must
establish itself to preserve its very life,
! and in addition to this must perhaps
accustom itself to an entirely different
! climate from that in which it originated.
A large portion of the trees planted
are propaga ted hundreds of miles from
the final place of planting. From a
natural fruit or timber country they are
perhaps removed to an open, treeless
one where the condition of moisture,
/ shelter and climate are not favorable to
tree growth and thrift.
l speak of these things to more forci-
| bly, remind my readers thai newly
! planted trees can not be too carefully
managed-that the chances under such
sweeping changes are against them
with the most judicious management.
What this management should be l
will endeavOr to show. Every farmer
of observation and experience has in
his minds eve, if not on his farm. Il
certain schedule or set of conditions of
soil filth and manure that are inSep-
arably connected with good crops and
4 generally satisfactory condition of
things. So long rs the ground is hard
and packed about his corn rows, or
grass and seeds predominant, he does
not feel that the conditions warrant
him in expecting u good crop of corn.
He feels, if he does not say, that the
proper conditions do not there exist for
a good crop of grass, if his meadow
land is hard tread and packed with too
many years seeding and pasturage.
His conscience should be equally acute
IN the management of his trees. feel
positively guilty when see the ground,
dry, hard and packed about any young
trees, for l confess it occurs more fire.
quently than it should. may be little
more sensitive with respect to trees than
the run of men, because l have made
that line of work something of a spec
ialty and study. And after all it is a
matter of education rather than of con-
science--unless indeed it is one and the
same, as many claim that conscience is
but the result of education.
For many of Us have been educated to
the belief that the tree thrives best with
out cultivation, and needs but little care
of any lind after its roots have been
covered with earth. This doctrine is
taught in a positive as well as a mega
tive form. A little thought and inves-
tigation, however. will soon prove the
fallacy of such teachings. Ilrthese first
few months the great work of establish
Pig the tree fats upon the roots. of
course They must extend themselves
in the soil, gain firm hold, and at the
same time support the top. The very
best conditions are necessary to this re-
suit. The growth of tree roots, like that
of corn, need the best soil conditions.
They need all that good filth can bring
tnem--ventilatiOn, moisture and availa-
bic fertility. Perhaps might well add
to these, root-pruning. Young roots can
not do well in a hard, packed soil.
If regular cultivation is not given to
Young trees-they should certainly re-
ceive generous mulching Mulching
serves to keep the earth mellow, retains
moisture for the roots, and prevents
growth of weeds and grass. The tree
cultivation and mulching might we'll go
together, replacing the mulching after
each cultivation.
1t will often be noticed that newly
planted trees hardly get sufficiently es-
tablished to throw out much growth in
the fore part of the season, but if late
summer and autumn be warm and
moist 4 watery growth shoots out with
wonderful rapidity. This is not 4 de-
sirabie or healthy growth, and should
be choked by light clipping back, or
pruning. BY checking the growth !
here, the perfected sap is sent down to
the roots in an increased volume and
will perform a work there that is
needed, in the way of root extension.
The greatest drawback to successful |
tree growth, especially upon our rich
Western prairie, is the preponderance !
of top over root growth. Work judi |
ciously to establish an equilibrium be-
tween the two. l say nothing against
natures methods but / do say that |
man has something to do, too. in
natures line of work.-W. d. Boynton,
tn Western PLOWnldn.